Massaging instrument.



PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

M. DOERR. MASSAGING INSTRUMENT.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 11., 1903.

H0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented May '10, 1904.

MARTIN DOERR, OF SAN J OSE, CALIFORNIA.

MASSAGING INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,505, dated May 10, 1904.

Application filed September 11, 1908. Serial No. 172,839. (No model.)

1'0 016 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN Donna, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Massaging Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in massaging-machines, the object of my inven tion being to provide for massaging the skin an apparatus which shall be more effective and more durable than those heretofore provided for this purpose.

My invention therefore resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts for the above ends hereinafter fully specified, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the cylinder in section. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 4 is a broken side view of a modification.

Referring to the drawings, in a suitable handle 1 is secured a stem 2, to the end of which is attached, as shown at 3, a collar 4: Within which is clamped a cylinder 5, closed at the upper end by a head 6. Through a central aperture in said head loosely works a piston-rod 7, attached at its lower end to a piston 8, Working in said cylinder and suitably. packed, as shown at 9. Around said rod 7 and between said piston and head is a coiled spring 10, tending to press the piston away from the head and toward the open end of the cylinder. To the upper end of said piston-rod is attached a yoke 11, which is engaged by the hooked end 12 of a lever 13, pivoted, as shown at 14, upon a plate 15, secured upon and extending upwardly from the stem 2. The outer end of the lever is bent around, as shown at 16, to form a thumbpiece.

In operation the handle is held by the fingers and the thumb is pressed upon the thumb-piece. The open end of the cylinder is then applied to the skin and by depressing the thumb a vacuum is formed in the cylinder above the skin, producing the well-known massaging effect by increasing the circulation of the blood by distending the capillaries, by raising the skin and muscles, and by drawing all surplus sebaceous and foreign matter from the pores.

All the known skin-massaging movements can be readily performed by this instrument and more effectively than with previous instruments, for the reason that the degree of vacuum can be very readily and accurately adjusted by the amount of depression of the thumb and also because of the ease with which the muscles may be lifted, rolled, and kneaded by maintaining the vacuum and at the same time rotating, sliding, and pulling the cylinder from the skin.

A still more important feature of the invention is the durability of the apparatus. Prior forms of massaging instruments using soft rubber are open to the great objection that the rubber in the course of a month or so becomes hard and cracks and then leaks, rendering the device inoperative. In this improved apparatus no soft rubber or flexible diaphragm is used and the apparatus will op crate successfully for an indefinite period. A further important advantage is the simplicity and cheapness of the construction and the ease with which the parts can be assembled. The yoke 11 is sufficiently long so as to per- Init the hooked end of the lever to pass freely through it to hook the same.

In Fig. 4: I have shown a modified form of the invention in which the maximum amount of vacuum can be previously determined. It has been found that a massaging instrument can be used with suflicient strength as to draw blood through very sensitive skins. To adjust the device, therefore, so as to avoid such a result, I provide screw 17 into the threaded end of the lever, the fiat head of the screw serving as a thumb-rest and the screw end. abutting against the handle to limit the extent of movement of the lever, and thus the degree of vacuum produced.

I claim 1. A device of the character described, comprising the stem, the cylinder supported by said stem, the piston working in said cylinder, the lever fulcrumed on said stem and connected with the piston-rod, and a spring for and a spring for normally moving said piston toward the open end of the cylinder, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARTIN DOERR.

' WVitnesses:

J. W. B. BRACKETT, E. A. GOODMAN. 

